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Programmable Pocket Calculator vs. Computer: A Comparison of Relative Efficiency for Small Jobs in the Soil Characterization Laboratory
Author(s) -
Parker J. C.,
Amos D. F.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1977.03615995004100030048x
Subject(s) - calculator , computer science , computation , computer hardware , computational science , algorithm , operating system
A time and cost comparison was made for three methods of performing computations for pipette particle size distribution, clod bulk density, Atterberg limits, and potential volume change (FHA‐PVC Meter). The programmable calculator was more efficient than either a nonprogrammable calculator or a computer using Fortran with card input. The nonprogrammable calculator costs were 1.6 to 5.3 times those using the programmable machine. The computer costs were 2.8 to 10.4 times those of the programmable calculator. In this particular lab, $200 per year was saved using a programmable calculator on these four analyses alone.